Please advised onboard preamp, pick up for Masterbuilt Dr 500MCE

[jhony]

Hello everyone,
Newby here, I purchased in USA and going back to Argentina: Masterbuilt Dr 500mce, TC Play Acoustic and Fishman Loudbox Artist amp.
Then I heard horrible stories about the Masterbuilt preamp E Sonic 2 electronics. If it breaks, what would you replaced it with? The guitar has a dual pick up, Nanomag and Nanoflex.
What will be best for this guitar, pedal and amp combination?
I will be playing (mostly strumming) in the house, friends and family.

Thank you for your help!
Jhony

[Marty C]

I think you will be great with what you purchased. I wouldn’t even consider changing anything until you have lots of experience with these items.

There are lots of great reviews on this guitar and lots of people love this preamp. Give it lots of playing time. I think you will be happy with your purchases.

Congrats and enjoy!

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by Marty C

I think you will be great with what you purchased.

Yeah, should be good, and congrats on your NGD! If you do happen to have problems with the ES2 system, I'd replace it with a K&K mini.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by jhony

Hello everyone,
Newby here, I purchased in USA and going back to Argentina: Masterbuilt Dr 500mce, TC Play Acoustic and Fishman Loudbox Artist amp.
Then I heard horrible stories about the Masterbuilt preamp E Sonic 2 electronics. If it breaks, what would you replaced it with? The guitar has a dual pick up, Nanomag and Nanoflex.
What will be best for this guitar, pedal and amp combination?
I will be playing (mostly strumming) in the house, friends and family.

Thank you for your help!
Jhony

Having purchased an Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE this past spring, I find the onboard Shadow ESonic2 system to be very versatile and good sounding. If the system should ever fail you, you can buy replacement parts for it from Shadow Electronics, either from their home-base German website or their American website. Enjoy Your New Epiphone & gear!

[JakeStone]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Having purchased an Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE this past spring, I find the onboard Shadow ESonic2 system to be very versatile and good sounding. If the system should ever fail you, you can buy replacement parts for it from Shadow Electronics, either from their home-base German website or their American website. Enjoy Your New Epiphone & gear!

Agreed above!

I have an Epi Hummingbird Pro with the Shadow brand electronics. It sounds fantastic with my LR Baggs Venue pedal for EQ and Boost.

[jhony]

The reason I am looking for recommendations is because once in Argentina, I will have to import the pream and the cost is more than double, and is difficult to deal with customs officials.
Yes, the K&K is highly recommended, but I will loose the magnetic pick up.
Is there a preamp with good reviews that can handle dual pick ups, ( magnetic and piezo pickup )

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by jhony

The reason I am looking for recommendations is because once in Argentina, I will have to import the pream and the cost is more than double, and is difficult to deal with customs officials.
Yes, the K&K is highly recommended, but I will loose the magnetic pick up.
Is there a preamp with good reviews that can handle dual pick ups, ( magnetic and piezo pickup )

Grace Design Felix Two-Channel Preamp but it's very expensive and you'd still have to pay import duty on it or any other preamp. Even if the Grace or any other preamp is available in Argentina, the import duty will have already been paid and the cost passed on to you, wouldn't it?

An onboard system that may interest you is the Schatten HFN Artist Plus 2 that comes with a Schatten HFN pickup soldered to the endpin preamp's Channel 1 which leaves the Second Channel available for other pickup types, including, I believe, magnetic pickups. You could even solder your Epiphone's NanoMag pickup (after splicing additional-length leads to the NanoMag so it reaches the endpin preamp) to Channel 2.

[JackB1]

The stock pickup system on that Epiphone is very good! Better sounding than almost all normal piezo systems. Keep it as is and enjoy it. It has a great plugged in sound. I think that Epi DC500mce is one of the best stage guiatrs you can buy for < $750.

[Nikofthyme]

Question about the 2020 versions of this guitar.
1. Is it being replaced as it's not in their catalog ?
2. Why did they stop using Shadow preamps ?